Q: I have many sedum plants, some getting more sun than others. All of them grow and flower, but the stalks on most of my plants lay outward and down on the ground. What am I doing wrong?

A: Thatâ€™s very common. The weight of the sedum flower heads tends to pull down the stems, especially on plants in shadier spots. Upright sedums are full-sun plants, and the stems get weaker and leggier the shadier it gets. So planting them in sunny spots is a good first step

If theyâ€™re flopping even in sun, dividing them often will make them more compact for at least a year or two. Dig, divide and transplant in the spring, though, not now.

The best solution is just whacking back sedums in late May or early June. I use hedge clippers and just buzz them back to about 6 inches. This seems radical and makes the plants look like the aftermath of a groundhog convention for a couple of weeks. But the plants will quickly push out new shoots, and by late summer, youâ€™ll get even more flowers on much more compact plants that wonâ€™t flop. Most gardeners know about doing this to mums (itâ€™s commonly called â€œpinching backâ€), but few know itâ€™s also a good idea on sedum.